Page 53 of The Deal Breaker
“You had your company, women you were dating, and the guys.”
Dash raised his chin. “Who did you have?”
“A few friends.” Four, if Iris wanted to be specific, but he was hurting. She didn’t want to add to that. “Let’s forget about the past. We’re out now and should make the most of it.”
He exhaled loudly. “You’re right, which proves how smart you are.”
“Yeah, right.” She laughed. “You’ve made billions from your gray matter. Me? I still don’t understand calculus. I would have failed that class and never graduated without you.”
A corner of his mouth slanted upward. “Have you ever used calculus in your daily life?”
She grimaced. “Never. Thank goodness.”
“Then who cares if you got it or not? That’s one subject, and book smart differs from life smart. Sometimes I wish I had more of the latter.”
“You have both.”
“Not in equal percentages. And before you say otherwise, you know it’s true.”
She did, so she ran her fingers across her lips to zip them.
It was his turn to laugh.
The server grabbed the bill. “I’ll be right back with your receipt.”
Dash stretched his legs out. “I’m having people over on Sunday to watch the playoff games. I’d like for you to be there. I promise, no calculus required.”
“Oh, okay.” Iris had recipes that worked well with his or his friend’s football game parties. She would theme the food menu to the two teams playing and their cities. “I’ll speak with Tony—”
“He’s available,” Dash interrupted. “I asked him yesterday to see if he could work.”
Iris let the words sink in. This was… She didn’t know what to say. “You’re adjusting faster to the new staff than I thought you would.”
Dash’s intense gaze met hers, but then he shrugged. “It’s not like I have a choice. And you picked excellent replacements.”
True, but she bristled. He should have come to her first. She was the one who took care of things for him and…
Ridiculous.
She was being utterly ridiculous.
Iris wanted the transition to be smooth for him. She’d hired good people to take her place so that would happen. His going to Tony meant she’d succeeded. That was a good thing. Yet, it felt…strange, and she didn’t like it.
Dash reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “Hey, you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m happy things are working out so well.”
“I’ll never be happy you’re leaving.” His thumb rubbed her hand. “But I know this is what you want to do. And I’m glad we’re hanging out again.”
Hanging out.
The two words reverberated through her. That sound so friend-like, but his hand was still on top of hers. His eyes focused on her, as if she were the only person in the place, making her feel like this dinner was so much more than two friends out to eat.
Stop.
She’d made this mistake when they were younger.
All she’d ended up doing was falling hard and winding up heartbroken.
